(Thousand Palms) - School will soon be in session, but many local students are not able to shop for that new backpack or school supplies. On Thursday, August 3rd, SunLine Transit Agency is once again holding its ‘Pack the Bus’ Backpack & School Supply Drive, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Walmart parking lot at 34500 Monterey Avenue in Palm Desert. This event is put on in partnership with the Palm Desert Sunset Rotary, KMIR-TV, Alpha Media and Walmart.

The Desert Hot Springs Boys & Girls Club will be this year’s beneficiary of the drive, which provides a safe haven to save and enhance the lives of young people in the community, especially those from a low socio-economic background. The Desert Hot Springs clubhouse serves 1,719 youth within the community. The Desert Hot Springs Boys & Girls Club will distribute supplies and backpacks raised through this drive to local students in need.

“We hope to have a great turn-out of those in the community looking to support local kids who need assistance in preparing for the new school year,” said Lauren Skiver, CEO/General Manager of SunLine Transit Agency. “We have the perfect vehicle to fill and deliver these much-needed backpacks and supplies, and we’re happy to dedicate it for this purpose. We encourage everyone to come out and help us pack the bus!”

The goal is to top what was collected at last year ‘Pack the Bus’ Backpack & School Supply Drive – more than 3,000 items and 300 backpacks. In addition to backpacks, school supplies can include crayons, markers, pencils, note pads, binders, erasers, rulers, and glue. All items should be new and unused.

Members of SunLine’s management team, staff and volunteers from the Desert Hot Springs & Girls Club, will be on site to greet donors, assist with drop-offs and thank the community for their generosity.

For anyone wishing to donate items but unable to deliver them on August 3rd, contact Norma Stevens at (760) 343-3456 to learn more about alternate drop-off locations available prior to August 3rd.